Tag: Sanders

Sep 18, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) runs around Florida defenders for a touchdown at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Alabama defeated Florida 31-29. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama leading rusher Brian Robinson Jr. dealing with rib injury

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Alabama leading rusher Brian Robinson Jr. is day-to-day heading into Saturday’s game against Southern Mississippi due to injured ribs.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban revealed Wednesday that Robinson was injured during last Saturday’s 31-29 victory at Florida.

“B-Rob played really well in the game,” Saban said of the back who had 78 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries, and also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass.

Robinson has a team-best 208 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also has four receptions for 17 yards.

Trey Sanders, who rushed for 71 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries over the first two games, didn’t play against Florida.

However, Saban didn’t initially provide a reason why Sanders didn’t see action.

“There’s nothing wrong with Trey Sanders, so I don’t really understand the question,” Saban said.

Saban later touched on Sanders in a general response to the running back situation.

“When it comes to running backs, whoever’s playing well and has the hot hand, that’s who we’re gonna play,” Saban said. “That’s how it’s always been around here. We’ve had some really good backs in the past that didn’t play in games that were third guys because the other two guys were rolling and playing good.

“So there was no plan to play him or not to play him. It’s just the way the game worked out.”

Another option against Southern Miss is Jase McClellan, who has rushed for 66 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.

–Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive guard Andrus Peat (75) lines up against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter of a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Saints clearing cap space with flurry of moves

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The New Orleans Saints released wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and reportedly restructured the contracts of offensive lineman Andrus Peat and safety Malcolm Jenkins on Wednesday, clearing nearly $16 million in cap space.

The Saints are also expected to release linebacker Kwon Alexander in the coming days, a move that would clear another $13 million in cap space.

Sanders, who turns 34 on March 17, would have counted $10.5 million against the salary cap in 2021. His release frees up $6.5 million, per Spotrac. Sanders confirmed his release in a social media post.

Sanders caught 61 passes for 726 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games in his first season with New Orleans in 2020.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection had three straight 1,000-yard seasons with Denver (2014-16), and has caught 662 passes for 8,619 yards and 47 touchdowns in 158 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-13), Broncos (2014-19), San Francisco 49ers (2019) and Saints.

The Saints lowered Peat’s cap hit from $11.6 million to $5.6 million for this season, per the report. As a result, Peat will carry a cap hit of $15.45 million in 2022. The 27-year-old has started 73 of 78 games played since the Saints drafted him No. 13 overall in 2015.

The Saints reduced Jenkins’ salary to $1.05 million, converting $5.5 million of the difference into a signing bonus that will be spread over the next three years, per the report. The team saved $3.4 million for this season.

Jenkins, 33, started all 16 games for the Saints last season, intercepting three passes and racking up 91 tackles and 10 passes defensed.

The Saints traded for Alexander during the 2020 season, sending linebacker Kiko Alonso and a 2022 fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers. Alexander started seven games for the Saints before tearing his Achilles in December, missing the postseason. He’s expected to be ready for training camp.

The Saints slapped safety Marcus Williams with the franchise tag on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media

October 4, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles RB Sanders, WR Jeffery get in full practices

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Running back Miles Sanders and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery were full practice participants for the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday.

Sanders, who has not played since Week 6 due to a knee injury, was a limited participant Wednesday and appears set to return Sunday against the New York Giants.

Sanders has rushed for 434 yards and three scores and added 12 catches for 91 yards in five games this season.

Jeffery got in a full practice for the second straight day and could make his 2020 debut when the NFC East-leading Eagles (3-4-1) face the Giants (2-7) in East Rutherford, N.J. He missed the first eight games with foot and calf injuries.

Right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) was a limited participant Thursday. Left tackle Jason Peters and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox returned to practice after resting Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

October 4, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles RB Sanders (knee) to miss second straight game

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Philadelphia leading rusher Miles Sanders will miss his second straight game due to a knee injury when the Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

Sanders sustained the injury when he was tackled after a 74-yard run against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 18. He missed the ensuing contest against the New York Giants four days later and didn’t practice at all this week.

Sanders has rushed for 434 yards and owns a gaudy 6.1 average per carry. The starter against Dallas will again be Boston Scott, who has 113 yards and averages 3.4 per carry.

Philadelphia also ruled out receiver Alshon Jeffery (calf), offensive tackle Jack Driscoll (ankle) and cornerbacks Craig James (hamstring) and Cre’Von LeBlanc (quadriceps).

Standout right tackle Lane Johnson (knee/ankle) was a full practice participant on Friday and the three-time Pro Bowl selection is projected to start. The Eagles are also expected to take nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters (toe) off injured reserve after a four-game absence.

Receiver Jalen Reagor (thumb) also is expected to be activated from injured reserve. He was injured in Week 2.

The Eagles also placed linebacker Nate Gerry (ankle) and defensive end Genard Avery (elbow) on injured reserve on Friday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) runs a route against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Report: No new positives, Saints-Panthers, Bucs-Raiders games on

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No new positive results were returned in the latest round of COVID-19 testing for players and personnel of the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports.

If no new positives are returned from Saturday testing on Sunday morning, the Saints-Panthers and Raiders-Tampa Bay Buccaneers games are cleared to be played.

The NFL said in a memo to teams late Friday that high-risk players, including four offensive linemen for the Raiders, would be eligible to return on Sunday after distancing during the week.

There was alarm in New Orleans and Carolina when the Saints placed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.

Sanders practiced with the team on Thursday but was not seen Friday during the part of practice open to reporters. Saints head coach Payton said the team learned of Sanders’ positive COVID-19 test on Thursday and team director of sports medicine Beau Lowery began setting up contact tracing.

“He wasn’t feeling well,” Payton said. “Right away (Lowery) sent him to our doctors for one of our tests. That came back positive. After that happened, we traced those players he was around, and coaches.

“We actually tested about 20 more people that might have been near him, and those all came back negative.”

Payton said cornerback Ken Crawley will be added to the COVID-19 list as a precaution due to close contact with Sanders.

Wide receiver Michael Thomas is already listed as out for Sunday’s game with ankle and hamstring injuries.

Thomas hasn’t played since Week 1. He suffered the ankle injury in the opener and later missed a game due to disciplinary reasons when it appeared he was ready to return.

Sanders is coming off a huge game against the Los Angeles Chargers recording a career-high 12 receptions for 122 yards in Week 5. Overall, he has 26 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns this season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 4, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) runs after a catch against Detroit Lions cornerback Desmond Trufant (23) during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Saints place WR Sanders on COVID-19 list

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The New Orleans Saints placed wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday and he will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, coach Sean Payton said.

That means two key wide receivers will not play after Michael Thomas was listed as out for Sunday’s game with ankle and hamstring injuries.

Sanders practiced with the team on Thursday but was not seen Friday during the part of practice open to reporters. Payton said the team learned of Sanders’ positive COVID-19 test on Thursday and team director of sports medicine Beau Lowery began setting up contact tracing.

“He wasn’t feeling well,” Payton said. “Right away (Lowery) sent him to our doctors for one of our tests. That came back positive. After that happened, we traced those players he was around, and coaches.

“We actually tested about 20 more people that might have been near him, and those all came back negative.”

Payton said cornerback Ken Crawley will be added to the COVID-19 list as a precaution due to close contact with Sanders.

The loss of Sanders comes just when Thomas was listed on Friday’s injury report as out. Thomas appeared set to return from his ankle issue then injured his hamstring earlier this week.

Thomas hasn’t played since Week 1. He suffered the ankle injury in the opener and later missed a game due to disciplinary reasons when it appeared he was ready to return.

Sanders is coming off a huge game against the Los Angeles Chargers recording a career-high 12 receptions for 122 yards in Week 5. Overall, he has 26 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Sanders is in his first season with the Saints after signing as a free agent in the offseason.

Sanders has 627 receptions for 8,197 yards and 44 touchdowns in 149 games (106 starts) with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-13), Denver Broncos (2014-19), San Francisco 49ers (2019) and Saints.

Also listed out for Sunday was offensive lineman Nick Easton because of a concussion. The Saints could turn to rookie Cesar Ruiz as the starter at right guard. Safety J.T. Gray was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Team Pressure head coach Deion Sanders looks on during the second half against Team Savage at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Jackson State to name Deion Sanders head coach

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Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders will be the head football coach at Jackson State, according to multiple reports.

School officials have denied the reports.

Jackson State is expected to hold a news conference on Monday morning to announce the replacement for coach John Hendrick, who was let go last month, according to Kendrick Marshall of HBCU Sports.

Sports Illustrated reported on Thursday that Sanders wasn’t a candidate, but Marshall said all signs point to Sanders taking over at Jackson State, one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Sanders has said he is interested in becoming a head coach and has experience as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Desoto, Texas, where his son, Shedeur, plays.

Marshall said one point that has slowed negotiations between Sanders and the Mississippi university is that Sanders is under contract with Under Armour and that Jackson State is a Nike-sponsored school, but it is not expected to be a deal-breaker.

Hendrick was 24-34 in two seasons at Jackson State, which competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The league postponed the fall football season until the spring and plans to start play in February.

In the interim, offensive coordinator and alum T.C. Taylor is running the program. The school has said he is a finalist for the job.

Sanders, 53, played 14 seasons in the NFL after a standout career at Florida State. He was a six-time All-Pro defensive back and an eight-time Pro Bowl selection. He also is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jackson State has a football pedigree that includes producing three Pro Football Hall of Fame members, three College Football Hall of Fame players and two Hall of Fame coaches. Walter Payton, Jackie Slater and Lem Barney are among the former players for the Tigers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2019; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) runs the ball against the New York Giants in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles RB Sanders week to week with lower-body injury

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Starting running back Miles Sanders is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury, the Philadelphia Eagles said Wednesday.

Sanders is listed officially as week to week, leaving Boston Scott and Corey Clement to split the workload at running back in padded practices.

Scott was not on the field Wednesday, with Clement taking the first-team reps.

Sanders is unlikely to return to practice until prior to Week 1, when the Eagles play the Washington Football Team on the road, according to NFL Network.

The Eagles parted with Sanders’ primary competition for carries last season, Jordan Howard, who was acquired by the Miami Dolphins.

Head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that Sanders is the undisputed No. 1 back on the roster.

“Somebody that we said, ‘Hey, you’re our guy’ going into the season,” Pederson said. “We definitely want to increase what he can do for us and if that means using him out of the backfield more in empty situations we definitely want to do that and see where he can grow and help us. I do think that skill set is conducive, not only to him — obviously matchups and things of that nature — from a defensive standpoint.”

Pederson said Scott was the team’s No. 2 running back entering padded practices this week.

The Eagles selected Sanders in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Penn State product played in all 16 games (11 starts) and gained 818 yards on 179 carries and scored three touchdowns. As a receiver, he caught 50 passes for 509 yards with three more scores.

–Field Level Media